From: David Stebbins [mailto:stebbinsd@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 9:57 PM
To: Mark Perry
Subject: Hi Mark. It's me again.
Mr. Perry,
I am, once again, being trolled, flamed, and insulted on your forum. Apparently, they don't like me, so they are just trying to get me to leave the forum. It won't work.
When I reported the posts, I saw a confirmation page that said "Your report has been received. It will be dealt with as appropriate in due course." Please, respectfully take a good, long look at the bolded sentence.
Per contract law, this constitutes a promise. You don't have to use the exact words "I promise" for it to be a promise.
Specifically, ladyhotrod has insulted me enough to merit a permanent ban on the spot. The others, according to the rules, have insulted me enough to merit a week-long suspension.
Mark, I am trying to be respectful and mature, here, but this is unacceptable. You (as the owner of the forum) have made the promise to me that, not only would the issue be dealt with in due course, but it would be dealt with as appropriate. Please keep that promise and enforce the rules that were laid out.
Thank you.
From: David Stebbins [mailto:stebbinsd@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 10:26 PM
To: Mark Perry
Subject: Mark, I've got an idea.
Mr. Perry,
This is the third time I've had to appeal to you. The first time was with a ban, and the second time was when the ban was lifted, but a mod had to approve EVERYTHING I said.
Well, I dare say that it's three strikes. It's time for a more permanent solution.
If you appoint me as a global mod, I can enforce the rules consistently and impartially, like they should be enforced, and I won't have to come to you again for assistance unless the admins start harassing me by overriding my decisions for no good reason.
It would have to be a global mod. My mod powers would have to extend forum-wide for me to crack down, not just on people flaming and trolling me, but others as well.
I can't guarantee that, if you do this, I won't have to come to again, but I can guarantee that, if you make me a global mod, I'll only have to come to you for harassment from admins and others who are above the global mods.
Whaddaya say? Wanna empower me to handle the situations on my own?
Sincerely,
David Stebbins
From: David Stebbins [mailto:stebbinsd@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 1:52 PM
To: Mark Perry
Subject: Damn it, Mark.
Mark Perry,
When I sent you that email on Sunday evening, I cut you some slack because it was late in the day, and you probably weren't going to check your email right before going to bed.
Well, you have since had well over a day to rectify the situation. In the meantime, I was the one who got the infraction for "abusing the report feature," rather than the people who actually deserved it.
Mark, I was trying to be a team player. I was trying to be a nice guy, but if this is the way you want to play the game, then fine, let's play the game. I'm no longer asking you.
When I reported the posts, the website that you own issued to me a promise that the action would be dealt with as appropriate in due course. Since it is implied that my continued use of the site (and, therefore, your continued ad money) would follow, then that satisfies the "mutual consideration" concept of a contract. You are legally required to take action as appropriate. Now do it!
If you don't want to make me a global mod, then fine, don't do it. But, I still expect my contractual rights to be honored. Remember, I know your address. I can easily serve you with a service of process if you ignore my demand.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
David Stebbins.
Yeah..... so I just went ahead and IP banned him.